10-Day Antarctic Discovery

Welcome to the “Paris of the South.” Upon arrival at Ezeiza International (EZE), you will be met for a private transfer via luxury Towncar to your hotel in the heart of Buenos Aires. Spend your first day decompressing from the long flight by exploring the European-style boulevards of Recoleta or the vibrant street art of Palermo.

This evening, Atlas hosts a welcome briefing at the hotel, where you’ll meet your fellow explorers and prepare for the journey south. Enjoy a final night on solid ground before the call of the Seventh Continent begins in earnest.

The morning begins with a seamless transition: a private bus takes you to the airport for an Atlas-exclusive charter jet to Ushuaia. From your window, watch the rugged peaks of Patagonia give way to the Beagle Channel as you land in the world’s southernmost city.

Before boarding, enjoy a guided excursion through the Tierra del Fuego National Park, where the sub-Antarctic forest meets the sea. Late afternoon, you’ll embark the Atlas World Navigator. Settle into your suite, enjoy a welcome glass of champagne, and watch as the snow-capped Martial Mountains fade behind us into the Beagle Channel.

Today we navigate the legendary Drake Passage, a 500-mile stretch of water where the Atlantic, Pacific, and Southern Oceans converge. Whether the “Drake Lake” or the “Drake Shake,” the World Navigator’s stabilized hull ensures a comfortable transit.

Utilize the time to attend enrichment lectures by polar historians and marine biologists in the Dom Lounge. Keep your binoculars ready on the outer decks—wandering albatrosses and petrels often use the ship’s drafting currents to glide effortlessly alongside us. This is the true “explorer’s tax”—a two-day initiation into the remote beauty of the Antarctic.

As we continue south, watch the sea temperature drop as we cross the Antarctic Convergence. This biological boundary marks the entry into Antarctic waters, where nutrient-rich upwellings attract humpback whales and hourglass dolphins.

Visit “Water’s Edge,” the ship’s unique observation area at the bow, where heated seating allows you to comfortably scan the horizon for the first sighting of a tabular iceberg. This evening, the Captain hosts a welcome toast as we approach the South Shetland Islands—the northernmost threshold of the White Continent.

Your first morning in Antarctica is a sensory overhaul. We arrive at the South Shetland Islands, likely making landfall at places like Aitcho or Half Moon Island. Step into your Zodiac for a guided safari to shores crowded with chinstrap and gentoo penguins.

The volcanic landscape is a stark contrast of black rock and glistening snow. For the truly brave, today may offer the first opportunity for the “Polar Plunge”—a tradition that involves a quick dip into the 32°F Southern Ocean, followed by a celebratory warm-up back at the 7AFT pool bar.

We cross the Bransfield Strait and arrive at the Antarctic Peninsula. Here, the itinerary is “Captain’s Choice,” dictated by ice conditions to ensure the best possible landings. You might find yourself at Cuverville Island, home to the largest gentoo penguin colony in the region, or Neko Harbour, where you can walk upon the actual Antarctic continent.

The silence here is immense, broken only by the thunderous “white thunder” of glaciers calving in the distance. Spend your afternoon ice-cruising through fields of “bergy bits,” looking for leopard seals basking on the floes.

If conditions allow, the World Navigator will attempt a transit of the Lemaire Channel—often called “Kodak Gap” for its staggering beauty. This 7-mile-long passage is so narrow that the mountains seem to lean over the ship’s rails.

Later, we may visit Petermann Island or Port Lockroy, a historic British research station that now serves as the southernmost post office in the world. This is a day of deep-blue icebergs and towering granite peaks, providing a high-definition look at the “Grand Canyon” of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Another day of “Expedition Flexing” leads us to sites like Wilhelmina Bay, a favorite haunt for humpback whales who feed in the krill-rich waters. The ship’s small size allows us to navigate through “The Gullet” or into narrow fjords where larger vessels cannot venture.

You might participate in a Citizen Science project, assisting ORCA researchers in tracking whale sightings, or simply find a quiet corner of the Observation Deck to soak in the scale of the ice. Tonight, we enjoy a special Michelin-inspired menu in the Porto dining room as we celebrate our final full day of landings.

Our final day of exploration may take us toward the Gerlache Strait or the Errera Channel. Watch as curious penguin chicks take their first tentative steps toward the water under the golden March light. The colors of the Antarctic at this time of year are particularly soft, with long sunsets that stretch for hours.

After a final Zodiac safari among the grounded icebergs of Cierva Cove, we begin our turn back toward the north. As the peninsula fades into the mist, the sense of accomplishment in having reached the bottom of the world begins to set in.

We re-enter the Drake Passage for our return journey. While the “initiation” is over, the education continues. Revisit the Science Hub to review the data collected during the trip or join the expedition team for a photographic recap of the week’s highlights.

The relaxed luxury of the ship becomes the focus today; enjoy a signature treatment at the SeaSpa or spend the afternoon in the heated pool as we navigate the powerful currents of the Southern Ocean. This is a time for shared stories and the bonding of a “cadre of explorers.”

Our final day at sea brings us back toward the South American continent. As the air begins to warm and the first signs of green reappear on the horizon of Tierra del Fuego, we enjoy a final gala dinner with the Captain and crew.

It’s a moment to celebrate the resilience of the team and the luck of the conditions. Use this final evening to exchange contacts with new friends in the Atlas Lounge, as the ship prepares for an early morning arrival at the “End of the World.”

After a final breakfast on board, disembark in Ushuaia. A private transfer takes you to the airport for your Atlas charter flight back to Buenos Aires.

Whether you are flying home immediately from EZE or extending your stay to explore the pampas of Argentina, you leave as one of the few humans to have stood on the White Continent. The silence of the ice remains with you, a permanent baseline for every future adventure.